PrezIke wrote:phips wrote:tbh quite underwhelmed with this one. sure having the cash to choose between a 32m and a 33m defender to partner your captain is a luxury but i feel it couldve been money spent elsewhere. just my 2¢
This signing give us depth, and competition that has not been there in central defence. Demi was intended to be a backup to Mangala last season, yet we relied upon him heavily. Otamendi is in his prime and a top class defender who could push Mangala, or Kompany out of the team to prove themselves if needs be. Kompany has also not had the best injury record so this gives us better cover.
Surely this signing came into light in part due to the issue with money owed from the Negredo deal so sure, we could use a world class central midfielder but I would gather that is next summer's main target. He was available and defence was a known weakness for us last season. Where else could we have spent anyway? Also seems we are still going after De Bruyne to replace Navas on the right, and putting he and Nasri on the bench, which also gives us tremendous depth we want to compete across all competitions.
This also prevents him from going to our rivals who are almost all in need of better central defenders.
thank you, a sensible post.
i agree with your first paragraph. but i would question: "Top class defender"? yes he did make the La Liga team last season and i think also for the Copa America (could be wrong on that last one) but, if what im reading about this guy is correct, there were big doubts about him in his last season at Porto which is why they sold him for pennies for Valencia. Porto is fantastic at selling their talented assets for big money. yes he had a breakout season last year but i don't know if i would call him a top class defender as of now (although, i guess the 1 season thing could also be said about KDB…which is why the money Wolfsburg are demanding and are gonna get is absurd).
as for the 2nd paragraph, i guess defense was where we could strengthen (aside from CM). if this had happened in late July I would've probably agreed. but our defense looks good now. yes it could change but spending this kind of cash for "IF" scenarios seems like a rash move. plus, we don't have to spend. we could've pocketed the Negredo money and put it to use next season.
yes it prevents him from going to our rivals but is that what City does now, buys players to stop them from going to our rivals? are we Roman stealing Willian from Spurs now? should've we have bought Darmian so United couldn't get him and would be forced to play Valencia at RB? we'd have RB depth and 3 talented players. should we have pushed through a move for Pedro so Chelsea or United couldn't get him? it'd give us depth or a replacement for Navas and for that kind of money Pedro could be a steal.
I'd also argue that if he wanted to go to United he would've. they were after him all summer and we only came in at the last minute. if he wanted to go he would've.
at some point in time City is going to have to commit to bringing through youth. i mean, hell, they spent so much money on the Academy they'd better start doing that. and now our most promising youngster--Denayer--is promoted to the first time and, according to his agent, promised to be one of the four center backs and then we swoop in on Otamendi. you don't want to scare off future young talent. yes we're all probably placing too much faith in Denayer at this point and he's prob a little raw but if our best prospect to date can't get a chance (yet) why should anyone else. yes, Martin will probably leave after this season and then we will have 4 really good center backs but how do you keep all of them happy? that was the case with our 4 forwards. either way, this move doesn't look good for City moving in a self-sustainable direction. again, just my 2¢. but what do i know, im a rag.
